The Lake Cowichan Kraken’s pre-season is all about player evaluation, and the lineup can change significantly between the first exhibition game and the start of the regular season. Some of the players listed on the exhibition game sheets may not be with the team come opening night. Others could arrive later, or move on to different or higher-level leagues. A few will earn roster spots, while others will solidify their roles. Regardless of where they end up, every player who takes the ice in a Kraken jersey is there to represent the team — and Lake Cowichan — to the best of their ability.
The Kraken kicked off their 2025/26 Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League exhibition schedule on Aug. 24 with a refreshed roster and a strong 4–2 win over the Comox Valley Glacier Kings at the Comox Valley Sports Centre.
After a scoreless first period, Kraken forward Iaroslav Morozov broke the deadlock just 39 seconds into the second frame, with assists from Nicolas Kalinocka and Aleksander Leonelli. The Glacier Kings responded quickly with a goal of their own, but the Kraken regained momentum midway through the period.
Kraken forward Cole Fedorovich put the visitors ahead with a goal just before the eight-minute mark, set up by Landy Johnson and Aidan Anderson. Less than a minute later, Morozov tallied his second of the game, again assisted by Leonelli, giving Lake Cowichan a 3-1 lead.
Comox closed the gap with a late-period goal, but it was the Kraken that took a 3-2 lead into the second intermission.
The third period saw no scoring until the final minute, when Kraken forward Kieran Prichett capitalized on an empty net to seal the win. Michael Richards and Sean Chernyak assisted on the insurance goal.
Goaltenders Alfie Blakeley and Lynden Mercier split duties for Lake Cowichan, with Blakeley stopping 13 of 14 shots and Mercier turning aside 22 of 23.
Nine different Kraken players registered at least one point in the team’s pre-season opener, a promising start as the team, now in its fifth year, prepares for the regular season.
The teams met again for a rematch on Aug. 27 at the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena.
The Glacier Kings got the early lead but the Kraken stormed back with goals from defenders Jason St. Pierre and Luke Bennett.
Bennett received the VIJHL Mac MacWilliams Memorial Trophy as the 2024/25 season's unsung hero, recognizing his consistent and impactful play throughout the season and his consistency has continued into this pre-season.
Morozov, Prichett, Kalinocka, and Toby Johnson all picked up assists.
Comox dominated the second period with three unanswered goals, taking a 4-2 lead into the final period.
Kalinocka (from Johnson and Bennett) scored for Lake Cowichan at the 13:27 mark and St. Pierre got his second goal of the night just over four minutes later to pull the Kraken even with the Glacier Kings. Kalinocka and Prichett had assists on the St. Pierre goal.
Just over four minutes into overtime Morozov scored his third goal in two games to win it for the Kraken. Assists came from Bennett and Colton Palmer.
Goaltenders Logan MacLean and Daniel Russell each played half a game for the Kraken, with MacLean stopping 15 of 16 shots on goal and Russell casting aside 11 of 14 shots.
On Aug. 29, the Kraken took on the Oceanside Generals and their exhibition schedule concluded on Aug. 31 when they played against the Peninsula Panthers at the Panorama Recreation Centre. Due to the statutory holiday, those results weren't available by the Gazette's press time.
The Kraken concluded the 2024/25 regular season with a 19–25–3–1 record, earning 42 points and securing the fourth spot in the North Division. This achievement marked an improvement over previous seasons, where the team had narrowly missed a playoff berth.
